Poll

Columns

This past month, I saw something I never thought I’d see: a Republican presidential candidate attacking an opponent for his participation in free-market capitalism. Newt Gingrich launched the first volley several weeks ago, going after Mitt Romney for his past work at a buyout firm, Bain Capital.
The Wall Street Journal took notice of the unusual attack, saying that “a super-PAC supporting the former House speaker plans to spend $3.4 million in TV ads in South Carolina portraying Mr. Romney as Gordon Gekko without the social conscience.”

When I first heard that Congresswoman Diana DeGette, D-Denver, would announce her bid to be re-elected to Congress from the 1st Congressional District at the Columbine Library, my first thought was, “I thought that library in Cherry Creek was on Milwaukee, not Columbine.”
As it turned out, I was right — there is no Denver library on Columbine Street. DeGette, who has represented Denver in Congress since 1997, chose to announce her re-election plans from the newest part of her district, the part in South Jeffco around Columbine and Ken Caryl.

Several years ago, I had an interesting conversation with a guy who used to tend bar at a popular Larimer Street restaurant. The place gave complimentary meals to professional athletes, which in turn drew larger crowds. All in all, it was a good business proposition.
One night, a big-time out-of-state NFL quarterback came through with his entourage. They stayed awhile, took full advantage of the free food and drink, kept the staff extremely busy, and had a good time. But when the time came to wrap it up, the tip was $10.

Ready for up to 120 days of nonstop fun and excitement? You’ve got it; your Colorado General Assembly convenes today for the 2012 legislative session.
As has been the case for the last several years, budget discussions will dominate this year’s session. While there was good news in the last revenue forecast of 2011, there are still many more needs than there are resources, and tough decisions will need to be made about how to do it.

With January finally here, Americans are increasingly turning their attention toward the presidential race. Until now, many of us watched the GOP primary out of the corner of our eye, vaguely aware of the waxing and waning of Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Herman Cain. Late in the year, the omnipresent Newt Gingrich entered the race with great fanfare, only to fall short of being the game-changer he no doubt planned to be.

The Occupy movement has been a wake-up call. Although the media first balked at covering it and has at times reduced it to its most absurd, the stories keep coming. People are being made aware of important core issues: the huge divide between the rich and poor. There are poor, and it’s no fun being poor.
This isn’t a “lunatic fringe.” The 99 percent are a flash mob of humanity waking up to their own best self-interests.

Evergreen Fire Rescue – ways to keep you and your family safe this winter
During the winter season, fire departments see an increase in house fires. Our small Evergreen community has seen six homes damaged or destroyed during the months of November and December. There is a common cause theme: the way people heat their homes and the use of heating devices.
For example:
The Corral Creek fire points to a free-standing propane stove.
The Meadow View fire was caused by firewood stacked too close to a wood-burning stove.

As news begins to trickle in about improvements to our economy, the political implications about who will benefit most will have both high stakes for the interests who will battle for the increased resources a better economy makes available, and high drama as our state’s leaders decide where to dedicate the newly found money.

I’ve never been fond of compilation columns or the laundry lists produced when deadline arrives before any decent ideas, but I’m going to indulge myself this week with a list of thank-yous amid the holidays:

A national Gallup poll now shows Rick Perry in third place among GOP presidential candidates, behind Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. The Republican nominating convention meets in Florida a long nine months from now, and many unforeseen fireworks, and much unloaded candidate “baggage,” could shift popular opinion dramatically. Thus, in spite of some gaffes this fall, Perry remains a tenacious contender, and might well emerge the victor in Florida.